Location of lost relatives
The
first massive wave of emigration from Ukraine began
in the last quarter of the 19th century. Ukrainians
had to leave their homeland for many reasons, including
national and social discrimination along with economic
hardships at home. In the 20th century millions of
people left Ukraine in search of a better life, became
refugees due to the Bolshevik revolution of 1917,
followed by civil war, got lost in the chaos of the
world wars. During World War II alone, from 2.4 to
2.8 million were deported from the territory of contemporary
Ukraine for forced labour under inhumane conditions
in Germany. It is estimated that up to 300,000 forced
labourers and Soviet prisoners of war of Ukrainian
origin who had survived the horrors of slave labour
and concentration camps stayed abroad after the war
as displaced persons.
Being separated from Ukraine for nearly half a century by the Cold War they lost contact with their families. We locate lost relatives, reconnect families torn apart more than 50 years ago, and learn the fate of missing loved ones. We also locate lost relatives in Russia, Belarus, Moldova and other countries of the former USSR.
Probate research
We
locate missing or unknown heirs, beneficiaries in
Ukraine entitled to estates abroad and provide authentic
records to substantiate the entitlement. We also conduct
probate research in Russia, Belarus, Moldova and other
countries of the former USSR. This service has been
mainly designed for solicitors, trust officers, lawyers,
executors and other professionals. Please note that we charge on an hourly basis. Our fees are based on time spent and expenses incurred with prearranged budgets.
How long does it take?
We
cannot say that the search process will be quick and
easy. It often depends on different factors, such
as: whether your ancestor lived in a village or a
small town, or a big city, how common the family name
was, his/her mobility, etc. Usually it takes about
three months. You will be kept regularly and fully
informed on our progress during the entire research.
Fees
Fees vary depending
on the difficulty of the archival research and your
requirements. They include archival fees to obtain
copies of documents, travel expenses on the basis
of the cost of train or bus tickets, international
postage, phone calls, translations of your ancestor’s
records, if requested, and other disbursements. A
free no obligation quote will be given for any of
genealogical services we provide. In the event that
you confirm your consent to pay the cost of our work,
we shall e-mail you a draft contract for consideration.
